978910. FRANCE, Deuxième République. 1848-1852. WM Essai de 5 Francs (37mm, 17.81 g, 12h). By Jean-Pierre
Montagny. Dually dated 1789 and 1848. RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE, draped female bust left, wearing wreath of olive and
oak; below, clasped hands and MONTAGNY FECIT / SOUVERAINETÉ NATIONALE (star), Hercules, wearing lion’s skin,
striding forward, holding raised club in right hand and part of lion’s skin in left; defeated Lernaean hydra in background; 1789
to left, 1848 to right, MONTAGNY to lower right. Guilloteau 3106 var. (bronze); Mazzard – (but cf. 1293 for obv.); KM –.
Superb EF, lustrous, prooflike fields.
($365)
With the foundation of the second Republic in 1848 came a need for a new, Republican currency. The government invited a number of artists
to submit designs for the new coinage. Numerous patterns were struck with types displaying a number of skilled portraits, making this an
exciting area for the modern collector to explore.